In late spring 2009 the Jane Norman College approached the Truro Elementary School to see if there would be interest in partnering on an after school program for the children of Truro Elementary in the school. The program received its license under the Nova Scotia Day Care Act at the beginning of September 2009 and runs the length of the school year. The program runs an emergent curriculum and must maintain standards set out by the Department of Community Services.

After School Child Care in Truro

In 2007 Nova Scotia had only 11 licensed stand-alone after school care programs. This meant that Department of Community Services had licensed these programs and these 11 programs followed the after school regulations and guidelines as set out by the province in the Day Care Act,Regulations and Standards. These regulations include assurances of educated and trained staff, appropriate adult to child ratios, fire and health inspections, specific space requirements, and developmentally appropriate activities and resources.

National statistics find that 80% of mothers in the paid workforce have children under 12. In 2006 there were close to 750 children in the Truro area between the ages of 5 and 9 years. Working on assumptions that Truro is close to the national average there may have been approximately 600 children in Truro area that need care after school in 2006.

Currently (2010), within the Town of Truro, there are only 3 licensed child care programs that run after school programs. According to Department of Community Service there are only 20 spaces listed as school age in these 3 programs.

After School Child Care Solutions

The largest benefit to the families and children in providing an after school program in the school would be the “seamless day”. Early childhood experts agree that the opportunity for children to continue their day in the care of educated practitioners with fewer disruptions is most beneficial to the child. Certainly the continuous presence of the child in school provides parents with the knowledge that the child’s time away from the family is spent in a caring, stimulating, nurturing and safe environment. While all early childhood proponents extol the virtues of the seamless day the practicalities of integration have always posed challenges. The Canadian Childcare Federation produced Policy Brief on School Age Child Care in 2006 outlining benefits, concerns and the challenges due to societal beliefs and provincial and federal differences.

Parent Handbook

All families receive a Parent Handbook upon signing up for the program. The handbook outlines the obligations of both the program and the family and has detail concerning all aspects of the program.